Firefighter Knowledge

How To Become A Firefighter In Mississippi

By Josiah Raiford 10 min read Updated Mar 8, 2026
how to become a firefighter in Mississippi

You may not expect Mississippi to have big need for firefighters, but there are plenty of aspiring firefighters asking how to become a firefighter in Mississippi. 

You might even be of the opinion that Mississippi won’t have
quite as many dangers and risks as other states in the Deep South. Louisiana
always seems to get the worst of the flooding and the biggest storms hit the
gulf and the coast of South Carolina.

But, firefighters here have a lot to contend with. There is
a threat to life related to fire, flood and medical incidents can often be
exacerbated by the poverty in rural areas, the climate and some state laws.

It takes the right kind of candidate to be a firefighter in Mississippi. So, how can you sign up and make a difference?

How to Become a Firefighter in Mississippi

At the entry-level stage of the process, these requirements
are pretty simple. But, as I will show below, there are other considerations in
the hiring process.

I will also highlight some of the roles and responsibilities in Mississippi, the risk factors in different areas and the training available. I will end with a look at some of the major fire departments and the job prospects in the state.

Firefighting in Mississippi

For the most part, the hiring process in Mississippi is very
similar to that of other states. Candidates will go through the same type of
written and physical examination process to find the best applicants.

This means that you need a passing grade as determined by the department (usually between 70-80). That grade can vary by department, as can the specific events in the fitness test. Those that do well here will go on to the firefighter interview and the rest of the screening process.

Most of the interviews and background checks are pretty
standard. Panels will want to know about your strengths and weaknesses, your
character and your past experience. This does mean submitting to a background
check about your past employment and criminal record.

They will also conduct drug screening. One factor that stands out in major departments here is the use of the polygraph and psychological profile. It seems that Mississippi fire departments really want to be sure that you are a good fit before they offer you conditional employment.

There are three main issues that firefighters need to
prepare for when working in Mississippi.

Naturally, the first area of training and response to
consider in Mississippi is fire suppression. There will always be a demand for
skilled firefighters in this state that can handle fires effectively. This
could mean a major blaze at a facility or large building in a city, a small
residential fire or a wildfire in a state park.

Firefighters need to understand the risks posed in their
area and the appropriate strategies to deal with them. On-going training in
fire safety, prevention and suppression are a must. Specialist skills in
hazardous materials, structural fires and entrapments help too.

Then there are all the vehicular accidents and medical
emergencies that follow from that. Every state has a risk of car accidents and
fatalities on the road in built-up areas and near major highways. But, the risk
is higher in Mississippi.

The state is known as one of the deadliest places to drive.
There were 685 deaths in 2017 at a rate of 22.9 per 100,000 people. This is
partly due to the road system but also down to relaxed laws on alcohol in cars.

Then there are the flood and water rescues.

Mississippi is at risk from flooding because of two major
factors – the river and the rise in storms. The river can rise and burst its
banks, especially in bad weather. Communities in poorer areas on these banks
can struggle with the aftermath for a long time.

This is exactly what happened fairly recently in Vicksburg.
This spring, the town was flooded very badly and was left to deal with the
water and the impact on their town. Their homes were flooded, water began to settle,
and it encouraged dangerous wildlife into the area.

In an ideal situation, the fire department would have all
the funding and equipment necessary to ensure that they can evacuate people,
pump out the water and secure the area. Firefighters can be the first line of
response after a flood and can provide water rescues, medical aid and other
support to these communities.

The other risk comes in the form of major storms and
hurricanes that hit the coasts around Florida and Louisiana. These storms don’t
always make it as far inland as the majority of Mississippi. But, there are
exceptions, such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

There was a massive storm surge here that caused major
damage in Biloxi, Gulfport and Pascagoula where 238 people died. While this was
a long time ago now, the increase in tropical storms and severe weather events
means that fire departments need to be ready for the very worst-case scenarios.

Fire Academies in
Mississippi

This all shows just how important it is to gain appropriate training in fire science and other essential skills. The following colleges and fire academies have all offered some form of certificate or degree course. There is also the chance to train at the state academy.

The Fire Protection Technology Program at Meridian works in
three stages. First, there is the entry-level certificate achieved by
completing 10 core subjects in fire science. This certificate is a good
starting point for the profession with a good overview of skills and
techniques.

Those that put in an additional 15 hours of study can turn
this into a technical certificate. Then there is the chance to gain an
associate degree with further specialist modules in the subject. This is
advisable to those that want to go on into higher roles and administration
positions in the service.

The credits are also transferable for bachelor’s degree courses in other colleges. You can learn more here.

The state fire academy in Jackson claims to train
approximately 15,000 students each year. That means courses for rookies looking
for their initial certification and those advancing their education in
specialist roles.

They do so with their facilities on campus as well as off-site training that delivers programs at local departments. You can learn more about training here at this link.

Major Fire
Departments in Mississippi

The following is a list of
major fire departments in Mississippi.  While it isn’t comprehensive it’s
a great place to start if you’re interested in learning more about how to
become a firefighter in Mississippi.

How to Become a Jackson,
MS Firefighter

The first department that I want to talk about is also one
of the biggest in the state. The city is the largest in terms of population
with 164,422 estimated to live there in 2018. The city also stretches for
113.23 square miles.

That is a lot of ground to cover for staff on fire, rescue
and medical calls. However, this state capital department doesn’t have the best
rating right now. They are an ISO 3 department trying to improve their status
with more funding, better equipment and new programs.

Those that sign up to work here could be part of a push towards a better fire service. Find out more here.

How to Become a Gulfport,
MS Firefighter

Another department that I want to highlight here is
Gulfport. This is a class 2 all-hazards response agency that has a lot of
divisions due to its location.

The city itself isn’t that big. There were around 400,000
residents in the greater metropolitan area in 2018. But, there are lots of
workers, tourists, residents and service personnel stationed with the US Navy
Seabees fleet.

That means that the city needs a skilled department with a fast response time. The department is home to specialist divisions for hazardous materials, search and rescue, dive rescue and maritime fire suppression. You can learn more about this department here.

Job Prospects for
Firefighters in Mississippi

The most interesting statistic for job prospects for
firefighters in Mississippi in 2018 was that the annual mean wage here was the
lowest in mainland America.

Crew members received
an average of $30,370 annually.

In contrast, nearby Louisiana firefighters are getting
marginally more at $30,600. If we count Puerto Rico in these stats, they make Mississippi
looks a little better as they only got $25,100.

At this time, there were 3,090 firefighters employed with a rate of 2.75 per 1000 jobs. Obviously, pay rates can vary depending on the experience of the firefighter, additional skills and the location of the department.

https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes332011.htm#st

If you’re interested in learning how to become a firefighter
in Mississippi, there are different ways to join the fire service if you have
the dedication and drive to succeed.

You can train at one of the colleges or the academy to gain
your education and certification. Then you can continue to learn on the job as
you deal with the vast range of incidents in your jurisdiction. Firefighting in
Mississippi is tough, but it is also a fulfilling role for the right person.

How Much Do Firefighters Make in Mississippi?

Curious about firefighter pay in Mississippi? We’ve put together a detailed salary guide with data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Check out our complete breakdown: Firefighter Salary in Mississippi.

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